Television broadcast reception device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a television broadcast receiver which is further enhanced in the independency of the user application software from the hardware and can increase the development efficiency. The television broadcast receiver includes; a digital channel-selecting means; an analog channel-selecting means; a video signal processing means for processing a video signal from the digital channel-selecting means and a video signal from the analog channel-selecting means; a graphics OSD creating means for creating a graphics OSD signal; a text OSD creating means for creating a text OSD signal; and an RGB processing means for mixing an output of the video signal processing means, the graphics OSD signal, and the text OSD signal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a television broadcast receiver capableof receiving a digital broadcast, and more specifically the inventionrelates to a television broadcast receiver incorporating a digitalbroadcast receiving function.

BACKGROUND ART

In regard to a control device of a conventional television broadcastreceiver, a method for shortening a development period, during which aplurality of television broadcast receivers different in specificationsare developed for a short period, is as follows. That is, the methodincludes to provide a control device of a television broadcast receiverwith an application microprocessor serving to control all aspects ofdisplay and an additional function and a functional microprocessordepending on the hardware of a receiver, thereby, to make the hardwaremanaged by the functional microprocessor transparent to the applicationmicroprocessor. Therefore, there are known methods for preventing theoccurrence of a failure depending on the hardware of a receiver andshortening the development period. One of the methods is disclosed in,for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. H10-136274.

However, in the above conventional control device, the functionalmicroprocessor has no display means. As a result, the applicationmicroprocessor also control OSD display which depends on hardwaredesigned for adjustments in a factory, in a market, etc., and thus theapplication microprocessor have a hardware-dependent portion, whichposes a problem such that the control device is inadequate in itsindependency.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A television broadcast receiver, includes:

-   -   a digital channel-selecting means for receiving a digital        broadcast;    -   an analog channel-selecting means for receiving an analog        broadcast;    -   a video signal processing means for processing a video signal        from the digital channel-selecting means and a video signal from        the analog channel-selecting means;    -   a graphics OSD creating means for creating a graphics OSD        signal;    -   a text OSD creating means for creating a text OSD signal; and    -   an RGB processing means for mixing an output of the video signal        processing means, the graphics OSD signal, and the text OSD        signal,    -   wherein the graphics OSD creating means follows the digital        channel-selecting means,    -   the graphics OSD creating means is independent as a digital        broadcast receiving and user application module, and    -   the text OSD creating means isolates an adjusting application        depending on the hardware of the digital broadcast receiver from        the hardware of the digital broadcast receiver together with the        analog channel-selecting means and video signal processing        means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a televisionbroadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing more concretely the configuration ofthe television broadcast receiver according to the embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention was devised in consideration of the foregoingcircumstance, and therefore it is an object of the invention to providea television broadcast receiver which can be enhanced in theindependency of its user application software from the hardware therebyto raise the development efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a televisionbroadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the invention. Theconfiguration of the television broadcast receiver will be describedbelow in reference to FIG. 1.

Television broadcast high frequency signals from an antenna, a cable, orthe like are entered into digital channel-selecting means 11 throughinput terminal 18. Digital channel-selecting means 11 carries out theprocesses, such as channel selecting, demodulation, and decoding, on thehigh frequency signals to output video signals, sound signals, etc. Incontrast, analog broadcast high frequency signals from the antenna, thecable, or the like are entered into analog channel-selecting means 12through input terminal 19. Analog channel-selecting means 12 carries outthe processes, such as channel selecting, and demodulation, on the highfrequency signals to output video signals, sound signals, etc. videosignal processing means 13 carries out the processes, such as switching,mixing, and other processing, on video signals from digitalchannel-selecting means 11 and video signals from analogchannel-selecting means 12 to output video signals. Graphics OSDcreating means 14 creates and outputs graphics OSD signals. Graphics OSDsignals are on-screen display signals including a graphical image. TextOSD creating means 15 creates and outputs text OSD signals. Text OSDsignals are on-screen display signals primarily composed of texts. RGBprocessing means 16 mixes outputs of video signal processing means 13,graphics OSD signals from graphics OSD creating means 14, and text OSDsignals from text OSD creating means 15. Display unit 17 receives anddisplays outputs of RGB processing means 16. Graphics OSD creating means14 operates following digital channel-selecting means 11 and isindependent as a digital broadcast receiving and user applicationsoftware module. In contrast, text OSD creating means 15 isolates anadjusting application depending on the hardware of the televisionbroadcast receiver from the digital broadcast receiver together withanalog channel-selecting means 12 and video signal processing means 13.

Next, the configuration of the television broadcast receiver accordingto the embodiment of the invention will be described further in detailin reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram further concretelyshowing the configuration of the television broadcast receiver accordingto the embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 2, the digital channel-selecting means 11, analogchannel-selecting means 12, video signal processing means 13, graphicsOSD creating means 14, text OSD creating means 15, RGB processing means16, display unit 17, input terminal 18, and input terminal 19 are thesame as portions labeled with the same numerals in FIG. 1. The detaileddescriptions of those are omitted.

Incidentally, digital tuner 101 and reception processing and controllingcircuit 102 constitute digital channel-selecting means 11; receptionprocessing and controlling circuit 102 constitutes graphics OSD creatingmeans 14; analog tuner 103 and TV microcontroller 105 constitute analogchannel-selecting means 12; video signal processing circuit 104 and TVmicrocontroller 105 constitute video signal processing means 13; RGBprocessing circuit 106 and TV microcontroller 105 constitute RGBprocessing means 16; and TV microcontroller 105 constitutes text OSDcreating means 15.

Digital broadcast high frequency signals from the antenna, the cable, orthe like are entered into digital tuner 101 through input terminal 18.Digital tuner 101 receives the digital broadcast high frequency signalsand carries out given processes on the signals to output a transportstream (hereinafter referred to as TS). The processes carried out in thedigital tuner 101 include: selecting a channel for desired signals amongthe input high frequency signals; demodulating signals of the selectedchannel (channel-decode); decoding the data resulting from thedemodulation for error correction; and restoring TS. Based on TS outputfrom digital tuner 101, reception processing and controlling circuit 102creates video signals, controls digital tuner 101, and creates graphicsOSD (on-screen display) signals. In general, TS undergoes TS-decoding tocreate a video stream, a sound stream, etc.; and the video stream andsound stream undergo AV-decoding to create video signals and soundsignals. The graphics OSD created by reception processing andcontrolling circuit 102 refers to the graphics OSD created by graphicsOSD creating means 14 in FIG. 1. The reception processing andcontrolling circuit 102 may be composed of one chip LSI.

In contrast, analog broadcast high frequency signals from the antenna,the cable, or the like are supplied to analog tuner 103 through inputterminal 19. Analog tuner 103 carries out the given processes on theanalog broadcast high frequency signals supplied to input terminal 19and restores video signals. The processes carried out by analog tuner103 include: selecting a channel for desired signals among the inputhigh frequency signals; and carrying out AM demodulation and FMdemodulation on the signals selected for the channel. The video signalsrestored according to the demodulations are output to video signalprocessing circuit 104 in the subsequent stage. Video signal processingcircuit 104 processes video signals from analog tuner 103 and videosignals from reception processing and controlling circuit 102 to outputvideo RGB signals. The processes executed by video signal processingcircuit 104 include: switching two kinds of video signals input therein;mixing them; and making various adjustments for picture quality. Ingeneral, video signals from the analog tuner 103 are composite videosignals in many cases, and the conversion of composite video signalsinto RGB video signals is also executed by video signal processingcircuit 104. RGB processing circuit 106 mixes video RGB signals fromvideo signal processing circuit 104, an RGB signal format graphics OSDoutput from reception processing and controlling circuit 102, and an RGBsignal format text OSD output from TV microcontroller 105 thereby tooutput the resultant signals to display unit 17. The processes for themixing executed by RGB processing circuit 106 include: switching betweeninput signals; fitting and superimposition of a picture plane; and imageprocessing.

TV microcontroller 105 is a TV microcontroller for creating a text OSDand controlling analog tuner 103, video signal processing circuit 104,and RGB processing circuit 106. The text OSD refers to a text OSDcreated by text OSD creating means 15 in FIG. 1. The text OSD signal isan on-screen display signal primarily composed of texts.

The operations of the television broadcast receiver configured asdescribed above will be described here.

First of all, the operation in a normal working condition will bedescribed. Reception processing and controlling circuit 102 carries outthe processes, such as AV decoding on TS and concurrently receives theuser control information by a remote control unit, etc. The user controlinformation of the remote control unit, etc. is entered into controlinformation input section 107, and control information input section 107enters signals corresponding to the information into receptionprocessing and controlling circuit 102. Reception processing andcontrolling circuit 102 issues instructions on various types of controloperations to TV microcontroller 105 with inter-microprocessorcommunication commands based on the entered user control information ona remote control unit, etc. As for the OSD (on-screen display) which isvisible for all users in a normal working condition, receptionprocessing and controlling circuit 102 creates RGB signals of a graphicsOSD using a graphics creating section (not shown) incorporated thereinin order to graphically display, first. Then, RGB processing circuit 106in the subsequent stage superimposes the graphics OSD on the videosignals and mixes them. The graphics OSD is thus displayed.

Here, TV microcontroller 105 receives the command instructions fromreception processing and controlling circuit 102 and controls analogtuner 103 to select a channel, and controls video processing circuit 104and RGB controlling circuit 106 thereby to make user adjustments of apicture. In a normal working condition no text OSD is output. In otherwords, in a normal working condition a text OSD isn't displayed ondisplay unit 17.

Now, the operations in an in-factory-adjusted mode and anin-market-adjusted-by-serviceperson mode will be described. Thein-factory-adjusted mode, in-market-adjusted-by-serviceperson mode, andthe like are modes which are pronouncedly dependent on device models andnoticeably hardware-dependent. When reception processing and controllingcircuit 102 executes OSD display in the modes, the device-modeldependence of the software is increased and thus the hardware-relatedspecifications follows the user application software specifications. Asa result, the ability of the user application software to be expanded asa module is made worse. Therefore, when the device will be brought intothe in-factory-adjusted mode or the in-market-adjusted-by-servicepersonmode, reception processing and controlling circuit 102 sends aninstruction about that to TV microcontroller 105 by commandcommunication. According to the instruction, the OSD display will beswitched to a text OSD created by TV microcontroller 105. The OSD in thecases of the in-factory-adjusted mode, thein-market-adjusted-by-serviceperson mode, and the like is invisible forusers and as such, the OSD may be not necessarily graphical andtherefore it may be a reasonable characters-based text OSD held down incosts, as shown in the embodiment.

In addition, reception processing and controlling circuit 102 andcontrol information input section 107 constitute input processing means20. It has already described that control information input section 107accepts control information according to user control on the remotecontrol unit to carry out the given processes. Control information inputsection 107 accepts control information treated by a developer inaddition to control information according to user control on the remotecontrol unit. The control information that a developer treats is notused by a common user and it is a piece of control information commonlyunable to be known by a user. The control information that a developertreats can be entered, for example, by pressing keys on the remotecontrol unit in a predetermined order or pressing predetermined keys fora predetermined length of time or at predetermined time intervals. Also,the control information that a developer treats can be entered bycontrolling a predetermined switch in the broadcast receiver. Based onthe control information that a developer treats, which has been enteredin this manner, control information input section 107 supplies receptionprocessing and controlling circuit 102 with signals corresponding to theinformation. When a developer performs certain key entries in thismanner, TV microcontroller 105 can be caused to execute OSD display as auser application software in relation to analog channel selection.

The above description cites the control information that a developertreats as the control information which is not used by a common user andcommonly unable to be known by a user. The control information which isnot used by a common user and commonly unable to be known by a user isnot limited to the control information that a developer treats and itmay be the control information used in a production step in a factory orin a step of adjustment by a serviceperson in a market as alreadydescribed. The control information that a developer treats, the controlinformation used in a production step in a factory, and the controlinformation used in a step of adjustment by a serviceperson in a marketare be generically referred to as manufacturer's control information.

Now, as already described, TV microcontroller 105 and receptionprocessing and controlling circuit 102 are connected byinter-microprocessor communication which allows information to be sentor received bidirectionally. Therefore, it is also possible for TVmicrocontroller 105 to procure the information on an operation conditionand a trouble in reception processing and controlling circuit 102. Onthe other hand, TV microcontroller 105 is also connected with analogtuner 103, video signal processing circuit 104, and RGB processingcircuit 106 by communication which allows information to be sent orreceived bidirectionally. Accordingly, TV microcontroller 105 canprocure the information on the operation conditions and a trouble inthese sections and control the specifications for operations in thesesections. From such back ground, it is possible to arrange TVmicrocontroller 105 as an anomaly-sensing means for sensing an operationanomaly of an independent digital broadcast receiving and userapplication module. Thus, when the user application module falls into anoperation anomaly, it is possible to cause TV microcontroller 105 toperform text OSD display.

As described above, the television broadcast receiver of the inventioncan cause the graphics OSD creating means to follow the digitalchannel-selecting means and make them independent as a digital broadcastreceiving and user application module. In addition, thereceiver-dependent adjusting application can be kept isolated with theanalog channel-selecting means and the video signal processing circuitin the television broadcast receiver by the text OSD creating means.This can raise the development efficiency in expanding the device model.

In addition, in the television broadcast receiver of the invention, adeveloper performs given key entries or the like from the inputprocessing means, whereby the text OSD creating means can execute OSDdisplay as a user application software involved in analog channelselection. This can serve facilities in the development.

Further, the television broadcast receiver of the invention may includean anomaly-sensing mean for sensing an operation anomaly of anindependent digital broadcast receiving and user application module.Thus, the operation of an application involved in analog channelselection can be ensured by the text OSD display means in the case wherethe user application module falls into an operation anomaly.

Industrial Applicability

A television broadcast receiver according to the invention can servefacilities in the development and raise the development efficiency inexpanding the device model. Further, the television broadcast receiveraccording to the invention can ensure the operation of the applicationeven when the user application software module falls into an operationanomaly.

1. A television broadcast receiver, comprising: a digitalchannel-selecting means for receiving a digital broadcast; an analogchannel-selecting means for receiving an analog broadcast; a videosignal processing means for processing a video signal from the digitalchannel-selecting means and a video signal from the analogchannel-selecting means; a graphics OSD creating means for creating agraphics OSD signal; a text OSD creating means for creating a text OSDsignal; and an RGB processing means for mixing an output of the videosignal processing means, the graphics OSD signal, and the text OSDsignal, wherein the graphics OSD creating means follows the digitalchannel-selecting means, the graphics OSD creating means is independentas a digital broadcast receiving and user application module, and thetext OSD creating means isolates an adjusting application depending onthe hardware of the digital broadcast receiver from the hardware of thedigital broadcast receiver together with the analog channel-selectingmeans and the video signal processing means.
 2. The television broadcastreceiver of claim 1, further comprising an input processing means forprocessing manufacturer's control information, wherein the inputprocessing means controls the text OSD creating means based on themanufacturer's control information so that the text OSD creating meanscreates OSD signals as a user application software in regard to thechannel selection of the analog broadcast.
 3. The television broadcastreceiver of claim 1, further comprising an anomaly-sensing mean forsensing an operation anomaly on at least one of the digital broadcastreceiver and the user application module, wherein the anomaly-sensingmean controls the text OSD creating means so that the text OSD creatingmeans creates signals for displaying an operation anomaly when theanomaly-sensing mean senses the operation anomaly.